Monday Memo: DOC NYC Festival Lineup Announced

by Raphaela Neihausen |


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The DOC NYC Festival this week announced its full lineup.

The DOC NYC Festival, which runs Nov. 8-15 in New York City, announced its lineup, which features a nice mix of films, premieres and panels, with a number of filmmakers and other special guests in attendance. The festival kicks off Thursday, Nov. 8 with two gala events, a screening of the film ARTIFACT with subject and actor/musician Jared Leto in attendance, as well as a screening of the film VENUS AND SERENA, which follows the famous tennis-playing Williams sisters. Head to www.docnyc.net to check out the festival’s full lineup and purchase tickets, and follow the fest’s Twitter account at @DOCNYCfest.

It doesn’t look like the debate over the new Oscar doc rules is ending anytime soon, although it’s starting to take on the tenor of a tempest in a teapot (alliteration!). Interestingly, the debate seems to reflect the fact that a film made to screen solely in a theater increasingly seems like an anachronism (or at the very least, a poor business decision). The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences (AMPAS) seemed to take note of the problems facing its documentary branch members this year, sending out a note indicating that it had extended its voting period from to Nov. 26, from Nov. 14. At Variety, John Weisman wondered if the rule changes were an improvement or a stumbling block. Writing for Indiewire, Anthony Kaufman took aim at filmmaker Michael Moore, one of the forces behind the rules changes, for hampering indie doc makers. Deadline’s Pete Hammond had a lengthy take on the issue, talking with Moore about further changes to the process that could occur. Steve Pond at TheWrap.com reported yesterday that Moore had proposed to eliminate the documentary rules completely.

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Free Orwa Nyrabia!

by Raphaela Neihausen |


imageAt Stranger Than Fiction, we want to join our colleagues around the world to endorse the statements of concern over the arrest of film producer and festival programmer Orwa Nyrabia.

TORONTO — The Toronto International Film Festival® today expressed its deep concern in response to the recent arrest of Orwa Nyrabia, the director of Dox Box, the acclaimed international documentary film festival in Damascus. Nyrabia was arrested on the 23rd of August at the Damascus airport, as he was on his way to Cairo. He was arrested by one of the security services of the Syrian regime and detained in the jail cells of the intelligence services. There has been no news of him since.

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STF Fall 2010 - Harvey Pekar, Marlene Dietrich, Adolf Hitler & more!

by Raphaela Neihausen |


image Stranger Than Fiction launches its fourteenth season on Sept. 28, 2010 with a sneak preview of MARWENCOL (2010, pictured left), including a Q&A with director Jeff Malmberg. The STF fall season takes place at the IFC Center every Tuesday night at 8:00 pm for ten weeks, through Nov. 30. Each event includes a discussion with the filmmakers, followed by a gathering at a nearby bar. The full season schedule appears below.

MARWENCOL, winner of SXSW Grand Jury Prize, uncovers a story that truly embodies “stranger than fiction.” Mark Hogancamp, who suffered a brutal beating, finds a therapeutic outlet by staging dolls in World War II era costumes. Starting out as a personal project, his work gets discovered by the art world and his story takes unexpected turns. STF honors another one-of-a-kind artist Harvey Pekar (who recently died) by presenting the innovative documentary and fiction hybrid AMERICAN SPLENDOR, based on his comic book. The Q&A will feature several members of the film’s creative team including actor Paul Giamatti. Other STF fall highlights include the first NYC sneak previews of ON COAL RIVER and SURVIVING HITLER: A LOVE STORY, featuring their directors visiting from out of state; and a revival of MARLENE the classic documentary about Marlene Dietrich, directed by Maximilian Schell, for a rare chance to see it on the big screen.

“This season will mark STF’s sixth year,” said Artistic Director Thom Powers who also serves as the documentary programmer for the Toronto International Film Festival and the new DOC NYC festival. “We have a little of everything: art, politics, sex, glamor, activism, emotion, travel and history. Many of these titles have won acclaim at festivals such as Sundance, SXSW and Silverdocs. We’re pleased to bring them to New York audiences. As the STF t-shirt says, ‘Tuesday is the new Friday.’”

(Season passes now on sale at early bird rate through Thurs. Sept. 16; Individual tickets go on sale Fri. Sept. 17, subject to availability)

STF FALL 2010 LINE-UP

Pre-season SPECIAL – Mon. Sept 20
THE HOUSE OF STEINBRENNER (2010)
Two-time Academy Award winner Barbara Kopple looks at the Yankees’ transition from old to new stadium and how baseball serves as a link between fathers and sons.
Q&A w/ dir Barbara Kopple

Fall Season OPENING NIGHT – Tues. Sept 28
MARWENCOL (2010)
Injured by thugs, Mark Hogancamp rehabilitates by building a scale model of a fictional WWII town “Marwencol” that gains art world esteem. SXSW jury winner.
Q&A w/ dir Jeff Malmberg & Tod Lippy, editor of “Esopus”; Co-presented by Woodstock Film Festival

Tues. Oct. 5
AMERICAN SPLENDOR (2003)
Cleveland’s Harvey Pekar pioneered autobiographical comic books with Robert Crumb & others. This innovative hybrid of documentary, fiction & animation celebrates Pekar who recently died.
Q&A w/ actor Paul Giamatti, prod Ted Hope, dirs Shari Springer Berman & Robert Pulcini

Tues. Oct. 12
ON COAL RIVER
In Coal River, West Virginia, four individuals fight for the future of their lush valley as they face a looming toxic threat.
Q&A w/ dirs Francine Cavanaugh & Adams Wood

Tues. Oct. 19
THE CANAL STREET MADAM (2010)
Jeanette Maier, who ran an infamous family-run brothel in New Orleans catering to powerful clients, sets out to re-invent herself.
Q&A w/ dir Cameron Yates & prod Mridu Chandra

Tues. Oct. 26
TAKING ON THE KENNEDYS (1996)
Timely for election season, this Congressional campaign doc follows Rhode Island Republican Kevin Vigilante as he takes on Patrick Kennedy in a hard fought race.
Q&A w/ dir Joshua Seftel; Co-presented by Docurama

Tues. Nov. 2
WO AI NI MOMMY – I LOVE YOU MOMMY (2010)
An American family adopts an 8-year-old Chinese orphan girl who undergoes a surprising transformation over several months. Silverdocs jury winner.
Q&A w/ dir Stephanie Wang-Breal; Co-presented by Silverdocs / Chicken & Egg Pictures

Tues. Nov. 9
WAR DON DON (2010)
In Sierra Leone, a UN tribunal hears the war crimes case of Issa Sesay, raising questions over the conduct of international justice.
Q&A w/ dir Rebecca Richman Cohen

Tues. Nov. 16
12TH & DELAWARE
On the Florida street corner of 12th & Delaware, an abortion clinic operates opposite a pro-life center, supplying a microcosm of the country’s ideological battleground.
Q&A w/ dirs Heidi Ewing & Rachel Grady

Tues. Nov. 23
MARLENE (1984)
Actor Maximilian Schell directs this classic portrait of Marlene Dietrich, containing a remarkable interview, richly illustrated with film clips.
Q&A to be announced

FALL SEASON CLOSING NIGHT – Tues. Nov. 30
SURVIVING HITLER: A LOVE STORY (2010)
Uncovering remarkable home movies, this film tells the love story of a Jewish woman and German soldier in the doomed plot to kill Hitler.
Q&A w/ dir John-Keith Wasson

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KEVORKIAN AND OBAMA COME TO STF

by Thom Powers |


image Ok, I don’t want the headline to mislead, I should say that films about Jack Kevorkian and Barack Obama are coming to STF. I’m pleased to announce the Closing Night film for STF’s spring season will be KEVORKIAN, being co-presented by HBO Documentary Films. This will be the film’s first public sneak preview. Directed by Matthew Galkin (who chronicled the Pixies in “loudQUIETloud”), KEVORKIAN follows the infamous Dr. Death following his release from prison as he makes a quixotic run for Congress in the 2008 elections. (His district in Oakland County, MI happens to be where I grew up). Recently, Kevorkian was back in the spotlight being portrayed by Al Pacino in the critically acclaimed HBO movie. Don’t miss this opportunity to discover the complexity of the real man.
image Once the spring season comes to an end, you’ll only need to wait another week for a fresh dose of STF. On June 15, we’ll show Jeff Deutchman’s innovative project, drawing upon footage from all over the world, to chronicle the day Obama was elected, a work fittingly titled “11/4/08.” Having premiered at SXSW, the film reflects the grass roots support – in particular of youth – that swept Obama to victory. Looking back on the day gives us a measure for where we find ourselves now and gives cause for anticipating the upcoming Congressional elections in November.

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DOC NYC festival launches in November 2010

by Thom Powers |


image It’s a big day at STF. Besides kicking off the spring season with a sold out Opening Night, we’re delighted to announce a new festival of documentary storytelling called DOC NYC coming in November 2010. This couldn’t have happened without the support of the STF community. We look forward to sharing more details in the months to come. Meanwhile, here is the official press release:

New York, NY – April 6, 2010 – DOC NYC (www.DOCNYC.net), New York City’s first and only festival celebrating documentary storytelling across the fields of film, photography, prose, radio and other innovative forms, will hold its inaugural festival Wednesday, November 3 – Sunday, November 7, 2010. DOC NYC was announced today by Managing Director John Vanco, Artistic Director Thom Powers, and Executive Director Raphaela Neihausen; the team behind IFC Center’s successful film series Stranger Than Fiction. Vanco is Vice President and General Manager of The IFC Center, where DOC NYC will be based. Powers is documentary programmer at the Toronto International Film Festival.

The New York University School of Continuing and Professional Studies (NYU-SCPS) has signed on to be the festival’s Presenting Partner, in association with Tisch School of the Arts. Opening and Closing Night events will be held at the Skirball Center for Performing Arts Auditorium at NYU’s Washington Square campus. 

For its first year, the festival will take place over five days showcasing diverse events, retrospectives and presentations on photography, prose, and the spoken word. The centerpiece of DOC NYC is a competition of eight documentary films emphasizing World or U.S. Premieres that will take place at the Opening Night Gala on Wednesday, November 3rd.  Additional sidebar sections will focus on specific themes and retrospectives.

“DOC NYC will fill an important void in New York City and will be a cornerstone for documentary storytellers from all over the world to showcase premieres, hold panels and give audiences the thrill of discovery,” said Vanco. “We’re creating a festival that will curate people as much as work, creating a space for the world’s leading thinkers, activists, creators, and celebrities to come together for dialogue, inspiration, and incubation of ideas.”

“We want to take a fresh approach to the concept of a festival,” said Powers. “Since New York City is the center of journalism, broadcasting, publishing and more, it makes an ideal location to gather the world’s leading documentary storytellers across many fields and give them a platform to reach new audiences. The line-up will look at the past, present and future.”

“We want to congratulate The IFC Center on creating a festival devoted to this compelling segment of the industry,” said Mayor’s Office of Film, Theatre and Broadcasting Commissioner Katherine Oliver. “New York City is the independent film capital of the US, and the perfect location for a festival focusing on documentary filmmaking. At MOFTB, we serve as the one-stop shop for all productions shooting throughout the five boroughs, offering premier customer service.”

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